The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's transformed serpentine body lay weakly on the ground. His overwhelming Duo Huang aura had completely vanished, and even his Dou Qi wings had faded away.
"This... this is impossible!"
He clenched his fists in disbelief. Forget being a Duo Huang—his current Dou Qi and aura barely reached that of a Da Dou Shi!
Not only had his Dou Qi vanished, but his powerful sixth-rank magical beast physique was now numb and limp, as if he no longer had control over his own body.
He struggled slightly before closing his eyes, focusing his senses inward. Moments later, he opened them again, nearly gritting his fangs to dust. "A damn sealing technique?!"
But… when had it happened?
The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor was utterly confused. From the moment he arrived to now, only a few minutes had passed. His exchange with Lin Ran had lasted only a few brief moves—and Lin Ran hadn't even attacked him directly. When had the sealing technique been activated?
Even if a Dou Zong was stronger than a Duo Huang, it shouldn't be this overwhelming. There hadn't even been a ripple of Dou Qi, and yet the seal had already taken effect?
Wait a minute!
A realization suddenly hit him. His eyes shifted from Lin Ran, who was calmly floating in midair, to Lv Yi, standing off in the distance.
It was the Beastfication Pill!
That was the only explanation. The only time he had truly let down his guard was when consuming the Beastfication Pill. The seal must have been hidden within the pill itself!
His eyes glared with fury, but instead of shouting aloud, he used a soul transmission to scream in Lin Ran's mind: "You tampered with the Beastfication Pill! You treacherous human! You're an Alchemist—how could you tamper with a Pill like that?!"
The accusation, ironically, only drew a slight chuckle.
"Rumors say the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor is a cunning schemer with intellect bordering on demonic. Looks like they're not wrong."
"But this little trick of buying time is pointless. You'd best stay where you are."
Lin Ran's voice was as calm as ever, yet it made the Serpent Emperor's face freeze stiff. Now that the truth had been exposed, he didn't bother to pretend any longer.
"You may be a Dou Zong, but Green Python isn't weak either. With her speed, she should've already escaped far by now."
"The Green Snake Three Flower Pupil belongs to my Sky Serpent Sect. You might as well give up!"
"Oh?" Lin Ran chuckled lightly and took a single step forward—then disappeared completely from sight.
"W-What...?!"
"The strength of a Dou Zong… isn't something people like us can comprehend."
Lv Yi gently approached the stunned Bai Ya and sighed. "I suspect Lord Lin Ran's strength is even above our Sect Master. That's why I was so desperate to stop Green Python from provoking him."
"He's too strong—in strength, heritage, and background."
"To make an enemy of him—or for the Sky Serpent Sect to do so—is absolute folly. But Green Python has been blinded by her obsession with the Green Snake Three Flower Pupil. She can no longer see reality."
"Hmph!"
The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor snorted coldly. Though he secretly agreed with her words, his pride refused to let him nod in agreement.
He was already fish on the chopping block, awaiting the blade. He could only pray Green Python had truly escaped—
Thud.
A dull thud snapped him back to reality. He stared, stunned, as Lin Ran returned, a serene expression on his face, gently cradling an unconscious young girl in his arms.
At his feet lay a corpse, completely lifeless.
Gulp...
The Serpent Emperor swallowed hard.
What sort of strength was this? He had not only chased down and killed a Seven-Star Duo Huang in the blink of an eye—but had done so with such ease, as if crushing an ant.
Just what was this human?!
He stared at the body of Green Python in stunned silence.
He wasn't some brainless brute. In fact, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor was infamous for his cunning, which had earned him his place as an elder of the Sky Serpent Sect. After taking the Beastfication Pill, he had completely acquired human-level intelligence.
At that moment, he finally understood what Lv Yi had meant.
This boy who looked so young… wielded power beyond his imagination. No force in the Northwest Continent—no so-called "great faction"—could resist someone like this.
This man had to either come from a hidden, ancient sect… or from outside the Northwest entirely.
"You're not going to kill me?"
"Do you want to die?" Lin Ran countered.
He held Qing Lin gently, speaking as though commenting on the weather.
The little girl in his arms was slender and light. Though her features were still youthful, she had clearly inherited the best traits of both human and serpent races. Despite her innocence, she was already developing into a mature beauty.
Her soft, boneless figure, paired with a delicately cute, porcelain-like face, made Lin Ran subconsciously reach out and pinch her cheek.
"You're just a sixth-rank magical beast. If you were seventh-rank, I might've been interested in your magic core."
"But rather than killing you, it's better to leave you for this little girl."
Leave him… for her?
The Serpent Emperor stared at Lin Ran, then at the unconscious girl in his arms. In an instant, the meaning became clear.
The Green Snake Three Flower Pupil was the natural bane of all serpent-type beasts. Lin Ran intended to make him her pet!
For a moment, the Serpent Emperor's scales bristled in indignation. But soon, like a balloon deflating, he lay flat once more.
What could he even do?
Green Python's fate had made things clear. The fact that Lin Ran hadn't killed him on the spot was already a mercy. Submitting was his only option now.
"A clever little snake," Lin Ran smiled faintly. He liked dealing with people who understood their place.
Crimson-gold Dou Qi gathered in Lin Ran's palm. Then, a stream of invisible soul energy surged from his brow, merging with the Dou Qi. In the next instant, under the Serpent Emperor's terrified gaze, the energy shot into his body.
"Aaaaargh!!"
A scream tore from the Serpent Emperor's throat. It felt like a thousand steel needles were piercing his brain, molten lava flooding his skull. The pain was excruciating.
Thankfully, it ended quickly.
After just a few breaths, the pain faded—but the Serpent Emperor was drenched in sweat, completely drained.
"W-What was that…?"
Still trembling, he reached for his forehead. Just beneath his spiral horn, etched into the black scales, was a blazing hot brand mark—now permanently fused to his body.
Lin Ran waved his hand casually, and a surge of powerful Dou Qi flooded into the Serpent Emperor's body. In mere moments, the weak aura of a Da Dou Shi was restored to his former Six-Star Duo Huang strength.
"I'll be spending quite a while here in the Northwest. For now… you'll serve as my mount."
(End of Chapter)